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Published : 23 Dec 2025, 10:10 PM
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), an organisation of traders in the sector, has suggested declaring a holiday for ready-made garment factories in Dhaka’s Tongi and Gazipur on Dec 25, the day BNP leader Tarique Rahman is set to return to the country.
In a letter sent to member factories on Tuesday, BGMEA said the presence of BNP workers and supporters will increase at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and surrounding areas, which may cause traffic jams.
The traffic jam could disrupt goods transport and garment factory operations, so it is suggested that factories in Tongi and Gazipur remain closed that day.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique is returning home on Thursday after breaking his 15-year exile. His party has taken up various programmes, including rallies around the arrival.
The party has taken the initiative to gather a huge crowd at the airport that day.
BGMEA Director and Surma Garments Managing Director Faisal Samad told bdnews24.com: “There will be a large crowd for Tarique’s return, so it has been advised to avoid issues like causing hardship to factory workers and goods in transportation.
“The factory will decide whether to close or not, and if it remains closed, it has also been said the budget can be adjusted.”
In a letter sent to member factories, the BGMEA said: “Considering the said gathering, there may be disruption in the movement of workers and the transport of urgent import-export goods by bus to factories in Uttara (East-West), Uttarkhan, Dakkhinkhan, Khilkhet, Abdullahpur, Turag, Tongi, Pubail, Rupganj, Kanchan Bridge, and Ashulia areas (East).”
If the factories close, workers will be assigned general duty before or after Dec 25 to make up for the loss.
Meanwhile, the BGMEA has requested that alternative routes be used for transporting goods until the situation in these areas returns to normal.
